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In-Depth Look: InCas Tests (May 2017)

posted 30 May 2017, 05:26 by International School Olomouc
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updated 30 May 2017, 06:44
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by Barbora Vraštilová

The end of the school year is approaching and so is the period of the final exams. Same as every year, students will be doing computer-based tests called InCAS (Y1-Y6) and also paper-based, Cambridge Progression Tests (Y3-Y9).

InCAS

InCAS are standardised, computer-based tests of students’ abilities taken by students in Y1 - Y6.

The tests are divided into 6 modules: ReadingSpelling General MathematicsMental ArithmeticsDeveloped AbilityAttitudes

Reading consists of word recognition, word decoding, comprehension and spelling. General Mathematics includes quizzes about numbers, measures and data. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division are four parts of the Mental Arithmetic. In the module Developed Ability, students are tested verbally in picture vocabulary and non-verbally in spatial imagination. Last part, Attitudes, is a module where students express their attitudes towards Maths, English, school and their general attitude towards learning.

The results of the tests are visible in a table:

The first column shows separate modules and their parts. There is a date of the test in the second column and the age of the student in the scale year:month in the third column. The fourth column indicates the result of the test calculated in age (e.g. in the part word recognition the student’s result is as if the student’s age is 5 years and 4 months, although he/she is 6 years and 7 months; on the other hand, in the part word decoding, the result is as if the student is 8 years old). The last column then shows the difference between the actual age and the age reached in the test. The difference could be a positive number (the student reached better result) or a negative number (student reached worse result in comparison with his/ her age).

If there is a star in the table, that means that student did not manage to get to that part because of time restriction.

Students can rate areas of Reading, Maths and School on a scale from 1 to 5 in the Attitudes.

InCAS tests are a great tool to track student’s progress in the scale of couple of years. School is also using the results as a supporting tool to identify students who are gifted and talented or students with special educational needs.